Bookshelf



Sept. 17, 1957 E. B. E VANS 2,806,606

' BOOKSHELF Filed Nov. 1, 1951 .i l FIG.2

, INVENTOR. Ernest 8. Evans ATTORNEYS ite BQOKSHELF Ernest B. Evans, Galveston, Tex.

Application November 1, 1951, Serial No. 25 5,4637 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-43) My invention is a self-supported bookshelf of adjustable book-holding capacity and suitable for positioning on a desk or table.

It is an object of my invention to provide a portable bookshelf which may be conveniently positioned for use and which occupies a minimum of space when not in use. It is a further object of my invention to provide a desk bookshelf which will support a variable number of books of different sizes and retain them securely in vertical position. It is another object of my invention to provide a bookshelf which may be easily assembled and disassembled, and which requires a minimum number of parts of simple design.

My bookshelf comprises three essential pieces, a fiat shelf-board and two Vertically positioned flat end supports which are identical in construction and serve the double function of supporting the shelf-board and providing end support to retain the row of books on the shelf-board. The end support pieces are made of wood and are slotted to fit over the opposite lateral edges of the shelf-board in a vertical position. To accomplish this function they require a supporting bottom edge adapted to rest on the desk or other surface on which the bookshelf is to be placed. A short distance from the bottom edge and parallel to it, the end support is provided with a long slot which extends inwardly from one vertical edge somewhat past the vertical center line of the end support. The slot is shaped to fit over the shelf-board with snug but slidable fit.

In assembly the three pieces are mounted so that the two slotted end supports are fitted over opposite lateral edges of the shelf-board and are positioned at opposite ends of the shelf-board.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a device embodying my invention.

Figure I is a cabinet drawing of the assembled bookshelf.

Figure II illustrates an end view of the assembled bookshelf.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 designates the shelf-board which is the shelf support for the books. In the particular construction shown, the shelf is manufactured of a hard wood, e. g. maple, and measures 28 inches by 8 inches by inch. The two end supports 2 and 3 are of well seasoned pine 1 inch thick and 7 inches square. End supports 2 and 3 are provided with bottom edge surfaces 4 and 5, respectively, which may be suitably cushioned with a piece of felt to protect the surface on which the shelf is to be placed. At a distance of 1% inches from the bottom of each of end supports 2 and 3 and parallel to the bottom edges 4 and 5 are cut 2,806,666 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 slots 6 and 7, respectively, which extend across each end support from one vertical edge to within 1% inches of the opposite vertical edge. The slots by actual measurement are nds of an inch high or just wide enough to accommodate maple shelf-board 1 snugly.

For best results, all three pieces are sanded, shellacked and waxed to provide good sliding surfaces. As shown in Figure I, end supports 2 and 3 are placed over opposite lateral edges 8 and 9 of shelf-board 1, so that slots 6 and 7 receive shelf-board 1 and retain it in a horizontal position. Any number of books within the limitation of the length of the shelf-board 1 may be placed between the end supports. The particular construction shown accommodates from 3 or 4 to 20 or more books.

To add or remove books, one end of the shelf-board is tipped to free the end support at that end so that the adjustment in the number of books can be made. The free end support is then permitted to slide against the books and the shelf is again placed in a horizontal position so that neither end support can slide. Thus, the shelf provides a very solid structure which is not easily upset.

It is obvious that my bookshelf may be wider, longer, shorter and even thicker or thinner as desired. Moreover, the end supports may be of different shapes and variable design so long as they provide a stable supporting surface at their bottom edges and a suitable slot which will extend more than half way across the width of the shelf-board. It is desirable that the end supports be of sufiicient height above the shelf-board to provide adequate end support for the books placed on the shelf. In general, the height of the end support above the shelfboard should be at least about twice the distance which the end support raises the shelf-board above the surface upon which the end supports rest and should also be at least about half the height of the average book to be retained on the shelf. It is also desirable that the end supports have substantial thickness, as stability of the shelf is dependent upon the thickness of the end supports. In general the necessary minimum thickness of the end supports will vary with each different construction as it is a function of the overall size of the shelf board.

I claim:

A self-supported bookshelf of adjustable capacity comprising an elongated horizontal shelf-board and a pair of vertically positioned flat end support members, each end support member having a supporting bottom edge and a slotted opening of length greater than one-half the width of said shelf-board, said slotted opening being substantially parallel to the bottom edge of the support member and extending partially across the support member from one vertical edge thereof, said end support members being assembled with said shelf-board at opposite ends thereof with their slotted portions slidably receiving the shelf-board along opposite longitudinal edges thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 164,552 Curtis Sept. 18, 1951 1,802,245 Foretich Apr. 21, 1931 1,891,420 Jaquith Dec. 20, 1932 2,147,237 Bluthardt Feb. 14, 1939 2,334,912 Eide Nov. 23, 1943 2,366,677 Rosenthal Jan. 2, 1945 

